Tri-C Helps Job Seekers with Free Program

By J.T. Neuffer, Career Development & Transition Specialist

If you are a job seeker needing help with your search…Tri-C Career Development and Transition Services
can assist you!

Since its inception in January 2010, Tri-C’s Career Development and Transition Services department
has served over 1500 unemployed and underemployed community members across Cuyahoga County
and beyond with free job search services. These services range from individual coaching to a regularly
scheduled series of group workshops offered at a variety of Tri-C locations or in the community. Our
services are being funded through grants from the Cleveland Foundation and The Walmart Foundation
Brighter Futures Project led by The League for Innovation in the Community College.

The unemployment rate in Cuyahoga County is staggering at 9% while the City of Lakewood has a
modest 8.1% according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics Report. While the unemployment
rate has seen minor improvements over the past year there are many people still out of work. As
a result, our mission is to help you develop the skills necessary to be successful in your job search
and inform you of the tools available to increase your employment opportunities. Therefore, we are
bringing our services to Lakewood Family Collaborative members and other Lakewood residents through
a series of job search preparation workshops held at Lakewood Public Library every Tuesday during
the month of February from 9:30am – 12:30pm. Workshop topics include: Resumes That Get Results,
Developing Your Job Search Plan, Networking…Get with it, and Ace the Interview.

Our team of highly trained professionals who serve as facilitators and career specialists for the Career
Development and Transition Services include members with extensive business experience in Human
Resources Management, Training & Development and Staffing & Recruiting. The proven collective
expertise of all involved ensures that those served have access to the highest level of support in the
areas of Career Development and Job Search Preparation.

If you need immediate job search assistance, please call 1-866-933-5180 and follow the menu prompts.
Your call will be routed to a Career Transition Specialist. We look forward to meeting and working with
you in February or sooner.

New Year’s Resolutions:Coniser De-Cluttering Your Space for Success

Do you plan on making a New Year resolution for 2011?  Do resolutions work for you? Are you able to stay motivated or do you fall off the resolution wagon by February?  According to Dorothy.com, each year about 1 in 4 adults make New Year resolutions and out of those only about 6% keep them. It really isn’t too surprising since so many who resolve to make a change; quit smoking, lose weight, work out more, be happier, haven’t prepared themselves to break these deeply instilled habits. Going turkey rarely, if ever, works.

 

If you want to be successful in keeping life-changing resolutions you might want to consider making changes in the way you live in your space.  Your home should reflect who you are, or who you want to become, and should support you in everyway to help you live the quality of life you want to lead.  Unfortunately, if you are experiencing clutter problems in your life, physical or mental, it can get in the way of you keeping those resolutions.

 

Clutter issues vary greatly. Some people may just have a room that bugs them and then there are others who are actually unable to move through their homes due to the stuff piled floor to ceiling.  Another form of clutter is mental clutter.  Mental clutter can be those fears, doubts, past events and so on that we carry around with us that effect our decisions or prevents us from moving forward in our lives. Clearing clutter is a very powerful approach to helping you clear the way for new opportunities.  You are making room in your life to be creative and to think effectively so you can focus on your goals.  It may be a subtle shift, but when you begin to deal with your clutter you will become less focused on those habits you are trying to break.

 

For example, a very common New Year resolution is weight loss.  Peter Walsh, a well-known clutter coach, explains in Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?, that when he wrote his first clutter book he received letters from people who were unintentionally losing weight as they were dealing with their clutter.  Walsh, had not set out to help people lose weight, but quickly connected the power of clearing clutter to helping his clients achieve more than just a clean house.  By clearing and releasing the extra stuff in your house, or in your head, you are able to release the extra weight you have also accumulated. Plus, if you are focused on clearing clutter you are less focused on food.  This is why most diets don’t work—you are constantly food-focused.

 

It is never too late to make a New Year resolution and so instead of starting on January 1^st, why not take some time to clear the way for success.  Resolutions can be broken up into smaller manageable goals.  If losing weight is what you want to conquer than try de-cluttering and organizing your kitchen.  Pitch the junk.  Clean out your fridge and put in food that is fresh and supports your goal to lose weight.  Organize cupboards, utensil drawers, and don’t allow any junk drawers.  You will want to create a clean clutter-free kitchen that will motivate you to eat better and feel good about preparing healthy meals.  You might even want to consider painting or hanging a picture that reminds you to stay positive.

 

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of de-cluttering or can’t figure out where to begin then make it a goal to remove 9 items from your house (they really must leave—give them away with love) per day for the next 27 days.  By the end of 27 days, you will be more clear-minded and able to decide how to move life forward. Clearing the physical and mental clutter will help give you the energy and willpower you need to follow through on your resolutions.

Lakewood Collab Leadership Information

The following is the list of Collab Members working in leadership roles to help grow the Collab.  Please feel free to contact them if you have questions or want more information on the Collab.  Currently,  there is a committee dedicated to developing by-laws that would lay out a plan for electing leaders and defining their roles.  Look for that information coming soon in 2011.

Mary Hall

mary.hall@lakewoodoh.net

 

Bruce Chamberlin

bruce.chamberlin@lakewoodoh.net

 

Dottie Buckon

dottie.buckon@lakewoodoh.net

 

Paula Maeder-Connor

paula_wow@yahoo.com

 

Mel Page

melissapage@sbcglobal.net

 

Donna Rakerd-Converse

silhbusiness@aol.com

 

Colleen Macnamara

colleen.mcnamara@lakewoodoh.net

 

Kate Foley

kate.foley@lakewood.k12.oh.us

 

Ralph Lundberg

ralph.lundberg@lakewood.k12.oh.us

 

Kristine Pagsuyoin

kpagsuyoin@hotmail.com

LAKEWOOD FAMILY COLLABORATIVE MISSION STATEMENT

The Lakewood Family Collaborative is a group of agencies, organizations and concerned individuals working together to
make sure a network of services and supports are available and accessible to children, youth and families.

Education/School Supplies Committee

Over the summer the Education/School Supplies met to discuss how the Collab could assist in the process of getting school supplies into the hands of students who need help all year long.  Collab Members, representing many organizations with an interest in collecting and donating school supplies, worked together to decide the direction of this committee and how they could deliver the most impact to the greatest number of students in need.

The School Supplies Committee is not wasting any time in 2011 and will be meeting in January.  All are welcome. We would love to have you!

 

School Supplies Meeting

Tuesday, January 11th, at 10am at the Division of Youth Office Meeting Room (12900 Madison Ave.)

Job Seekers’ Workshops

JOB SEEKER TUESDAYS in FEBRUARY
Lakewood Public Library, Main Branch
9:30AM –12:30PM

PERSONAL COACHING ON FRIDAYS
Lakewood Public Library, Main Branch
1:00pm-4:00pm, by appointment only

 

The Lakewood Family Collaborative along with Cuyahoga
Community College, Career Development and Transition Services
will be presenting four free workshops designed to help give
job seekers the skills they need to help them on their journey to
gaining employment or a new career.
RESUMES THAT GETS RESULTS
Understand the purpose of a resume, how to develop an e!ective resume and
review the general guidelines and parts of a “resume that WILL get results.”

DEVELOPING YOUR JOB SEARCH PLAN
Explore the importance of having a Job Search Plan. Learn about the general
guidelines and key parts for an e!ective Job Search Plan.

NETWORKING…GET WITH IT
Learn how to “Use the Grapevine” to get your message out – to get referrals
and gain insight into your target market.

ACE THAT INTERVIEW
Practice your interviewing and receive valuable feedback pertaining to your
strengths and area for improvement. Topics to be covers are: Basic Guidelines,
Traditional Questions, Behavioral Based Questions and Telephone Interviews.
TO REGISTER: Contact the Lakewood Family Collaborative at 216-529-6868
or email lakewoodfamilycollab@gmail.com.  Workshops & Coaching are free.

Appointments are required for Personal Coaching.

 

Lakewood Recreation

Get fit in the New Year with Lakewood Recreation!  We have water aerobics classes, Yoga, Zumba, and more!  Register now!

 

Learn-To-Swim sessions begin in January.  We have daytime or evening sessions available.  Register now!

 

LHS Pool Location and Parking Information

Health Talks at Lakewood Hospital

Retirement Readiness

Is it difficult to imagine what your life will be like after retirement? You may be better prepared than you think.

Linda Beebe, elder law attorney, will review what you need know now to be better prepared for the future.

A light dinner will be served

 

Tuesday, January 25

5:30 -7:00 PM

Normandy Apartments

22701 Lake Rd

Rocky River

Call: 1-877-234-FITT (3488) for reservations

 

Causes, Risk Factors and Prevention of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of death in our country, but is quite preventable.

Ryan Williams, MD, Cleveland Clinic colorectal surgeon, will discuss what you can do today to help prevent colon cancer.

Lunch will be served

 

Tuesday, January 11

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Westlake Library

27333 Center Ridge Rd

Westlake

Call: 1-877-234-FITT (3488)

Beck Center for the Arts

Super Saturdays @ Beck Center

Super Saturdays @ Beck Center is a free hands-on arts experience for children ages 10 and under. The next event, in collaboration with the Cleveland Artists Foundation, will take place January 22, 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the Beck Center lobby.

Upcoming Saturdays in 2011:

• February 19 – Cleveland Botanical Garden
• March 19 – Westfield Great Northern Mall
• April 9 – Beck Center Visual Arts
• May 7 – Usbourne Books

Super Saturdays @ Beck Center is sponsored by The Lakewood Arts Festival Association.

 

Beck Center Class Registration

It’s a new year. What are your resolutions? To expand your mind? To introduce your family to a creative activity? To try something you’ve never done before? If you said “yes” to any of these, then the Beck Center is where you want to be in 2011.

With more than 140 artistic opportunities each week, you will find something just right for you and your family—dance, music, theater, and visual arts, including drawing, painting, pottery, and more—at the Beck Center for the Arts. The Beck Center has the most comprehensive early childhood arts education programming in the region.

We’ve made our own resolution this year…to expand class registration options by offering convenient online registration. That’s right! Beginning January 2011, you may register for arts education classes, check account balances, make payments, print class schedules, and review your personal history all through our newly redesigned website: www.beckcenter.org.

For a Winter/Spring 2011 class catalog, visit www.beckcenter.org or the Beck Center at 17801 Detroit Avenue.

Financial Peace University

Following up for those who wanted more information on Financial Peace University, I suggest you go to daveramsey.com/church.  FPU is a 13 week course taught by Dave Ramsey via DVD.  He is funny, engaging, knowledgeable and graciously in your face.  Lakewood United Methodist Church owns the DVD set and is planning the series beginning sometime in February.  I will keep you apprised as details become firm.

From Priscilla Eva, evagroup@cox.net.